Bowling alley



May 25, 1954 R. E. RILEY BOWLING ALLEY Filed June 25, 1948 FIG. 3

3 INVENTOR. I RALPH E. RILEY FIG-5 ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 BOWLING ALLEY Ralph E. Riley, Akron, Ohio Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,148

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to bowling alleys and it has for one of its objects the provision of an alley which may be readily installed, easily serviced and economical to maintain while at the same time providing the advantage of deadening the sound of the bowling balls thereover.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a bowling alley a novel construction for the spots used in spotting the pins on the alley. This construction is such as to insure a longer lasting spot and provide means whereby the alley will not wear down or be damaged as readil as with the present type of alley.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for mounting the gutters and securing them solidly with respect to the alley itself.

Another object is to provide an alley which will withstand outside weather conditions without material deterioration; therefore, it can be used in places where bowling is employed as an outdoor sport such as at summer resorts, amusement parks and the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of molding the bowling alley in sections so that the sections are all identical in size, shape and configuration and, being free of any warping tendency, may be readily connected together and laid on a foundation quickly and efiiciently.

Still other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds, the novel features, arrangements and combinations being clearly set forth in the specification and in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary section of a bowling alley constructed in accordance with my invention and showing two sections of the alley and the method in which they are installed and joined;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section, looking in the direction 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the gutters added.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through a mold which is shown more or less schematically;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the mold showing the manner of molding the alley sections; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, I have shown two alley sections 1 and 2, the body portions of which are made preferably of a hard rubber composition having a Brinell hardness of about 90. The alley itself will be composed preferably of one section such as l and the other sections will all be constructed as shown at 2. The only difference is to be found in the upper surfaces of the sections. Section is the last section of the alley near the pit and the upper surface of this section has the spots 3 preferably of a rubber composition having a Brinell hardness of approximately 60. These spots are embedded in the upper surface of the section so that the upper surfaces of the spots are on the same level as the upper surface of the section.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a vertical cross section through the alley section I showing the manner in which the spots 3 are embedded in the surface of the section. These spots can be so held that when necessary they can be removed and replaced when they become worn, but preferably they are embedded right in the rubber composition which forms the body of the section I and as the spots become unserviceable, they can be reamed out or otherwise removed and new spots put in place thereof. It is understood that the surface of the alley, at least, will preferably have the coloring of natural wood and the spots will be made of a contrasting color, probably black.

The purpose of having the spots 3 of a softer material than the surface of the alley is that when the pins are dropped onto the spots by the pin racks which set the pins on the spots, the spots will yield and will therefore not be damaged as much as where harder spots are used. While the spots 3 are relatively yielding, it is to be understood that the hardness is suchthat during normal operation, they will not yield sufficiently to the weight of a bowling ball passing thereover to cause any noticeable deflection of the ball in its path of travel. Another advantage of spots so constructed is that when a bowling ball hits a pin, it normally hits the pin slightly above the larger diameter thereof and the ball .tends to force the pin down against the alley or the spot on which it rests.

With wooden alleys, this forcing of the pins down against the spots causes an abrasion of the spots and a destruction of the pins themselves and alley around the spots due to the sharp impact which results when a pin is knocked down. With an alley constructed according to this invention, the pins and the spots will both last longer and give more satisfactory service.

The sections 1 and 2 are each provided at opposite ends with a tongue 4 and a groove 5, respectively, and so arranged that a tongue on one section will interlock with the groove on the other section when the sections are moved into abutting relation as indicated by the dotted line 6. Embedded in the base of each section is a rectangular plate made of metal which has end pieces I and longitudinal connecting portions 8 preferably formed from a single piece of material. The plate is preferably made of sheet steel approximately inch thick, which is first brass or copper plated to form a surface which will readily bond itself to the rubber in the vulcanizing operation. This is well understood in the art.

The plate is provided with a multiplicity of holes 9 which receive portions of the rubber composition to thereby cause interlocking of the rubber with the metal to provide a unitary structure and to prevent separation of the metal and rubber during the use of the alley. Preferably, but not necessarily, the metal is forced into the base of the rubber section during the molding operation and is substantially flush with the underside thereof, but it is within the purview of this invention to locate the metal portion else where in relation to the rubber as long as the rubber is in firm bonded relation with the metal and does not interfere with the operation of the alleys or in the installation thereof. Each side of the metal plate is provided with the ears It which, as shown in Fig. 22, extend first downwardly, then horizontally and finally upwardly to form a trough. The horizontal portions of these ears are provided with the openings I I which receive lag screws I2, bolts or the like, which fasten the section firmly to the supporting structure indicated generally at I3. Ihe ears form the sole support for the alley section, thus making it easy to install the sections on any support. Shims can be used to get the proper vertical height for the alley. The ears ID are also perforated at I4 for receiving bolts I5 by which the gutters I6 are secured to the ears in proper relation to the alley itself. The underside of the gutter is recessed at IT to receive the head of the lag screw I2.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an alley which can be premolded in sections of identical size, shape and configuration with gutters which are also preformed and ready for use. These can be shipped and the entire alley installed with a minimum of labor, the only real work that will have to be done on the job being to level the sections.

Once installed, the alley requires a minimum of servicing since the material from which it is made will outlast present types of alleys and in case it becomes necessary to repair the surface thereof, it is possible to replace gouged out portions thereof by vulcanizing new material into the gouged out portion and then resurface the spot so that it is at the same level as the remaining portions of the alley. Alleys of this character are not required to be dressed as frequently as alleys which are made of wood and the saving in labor greatly offsets any increase in cost due to the difference in the cost of materials being used. It also means that since the alleys do not require dressing as frequently, the alleys can be used in service for a greater length of time, thus bringing in more revenue to the alley operator. The alley also has a sound deadening effect which cuts down the intensity of the disturbing noises created during the game.

I will now proceed to describe my preferred method of molding the alley sections and for the purpose of illustration, I have shown the molding .4 of a section such as the section I since this contains the spots. The mold which I have illustrated is more or less schematic but is suflicient to illustrate to one skilled in the art the manner in which these sections may be molded. One section I8 is provided with a substantially rectangular recess I9 and in this recess at two of the opposite ends thereof, I provide the templets 20 and 2|, the first of which is for the purpose of molding the groove in the section I and the other is for the purpose of molding the tongue on the section I. These are placed in the cavity I9 of the mold and a block of rubber 22 is inserted in the mold cavity and, in the case of the section I, the spots 3 of premolded soft rubber are laid in the bottom of the mold and held in proper location with respect to the mold by any suitable means such as by small pins 23 secured in the bottom of the mold and protruding slightly into the recess I9. Any other suitable means for locating the spots may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

On the upper surface of the rubber 22, I put the metal plate which I have here designated as 24 and against the upper surface of this, I press the platen 25 to force the metal into the rubber and the rubber down into the mold. In order to accommodate the ears I0, I notch the mold as at 26 just sufficiently so that when the platen 25 has reached its lowermost limit, that is, flush with the upper surface of the mold I8, the ears II) will be just nicely fitted within the notches 26 when the uppermost surface of the metal plate 24 is flush with the upper surface of the mold I8. A slight excess of the rubber or rubber composition is provided so as to insure sufficient material within the mold and any excess will flow out between the mold sections in a manner well understood in the art. It will be understood, of course, that the pressure brought to bear on the platen 25 is accompanied by the application of heat to the mold in any well known manner so that the rubber will become vulcanized.

It will therefore be noted that by this process the alley sections may be made of a uniform size and shape for interfitting when the alley is laid. The hardness of the rubber can be controlled by any well known process such as those used in the rubber industry and reliance does not have to be made upon the proper selection of the kind of wood to be used for the alley. Alleys can therefore be made more readily of a uniform hardness than at present because of the density of the wood now employed and the hardness thereof make it very necessary to sort and select literally hundreds of pieces of wood to secure the necessary pieces to make an alley of uniform hardness. If the surface is not of uniform hardness, it will wear unevenly.

The kick-backs or side boards for the bowling alley pit may be similarly constructed, preferably with the metal plate embedded in the center of the kick-back and with outwardly flared metal ears at the bases to provide means for securing the kick-back to the floor.

Obviously, I do not wish to limit my invention to any particular rubber composition as my invention is applicable also to synthetic rubber compositions and to compositions partaking of the character of rubber or plastics in that they are moldable and may be provided with a hard wearing surface. It may be found desirable to embed in the rubber a quantity of fibers to bind the rubber together and to prevent disintegration thereof, a practice which is common in the rubber industry.

In the claims, wherever I refer to rubber or rubber composition, it is understood to include, unless otherwise excluded by the language of the claims, rubber of all kinds, synthetic rubber and plastics or like materials having similar characteristics.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A bowling alley of hard rubber having the major portion thereof of a hard rubber composition of approximately 90 Brinell hardness provided with spots for the bowling pins made of a rubber composition of substantially less hardness than that of the alley.

2. A bowling alley as set forth in claim 1 in which the hardness of the spots is about 60 Brihell.

3. A bowling alley comprising sections of hard rubber, each having a metal plate embedded therein and bonded thereto, and means for fastening the metal plate to a support, the metal plate being sufiiciently strong and rigid to sustain the weight of the section and the normal load on the section when supported only by means engaging said plate, without other intermediate supports.

4. A bowling alley comprising a body member having a hard rubber surface with a metal plate attached therein, the metal plate being provided with laterally extending ears extending beyond the edges of the alley for attachment to a supporting structure, the ears being sufiiciently strong and rigid to sustain the weight of the alley and the normal load thereon without other supporting structure.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which the ears also provide a means for supporting and locating the gutters for the alley, and in which gutters are removably attached to and located by said ears in proper juxtaposition with respect to the alley.

6. An alley section composed of a rubber composition having a metal plate embedded therein and bonded thereto, the metal plate having a multiplicity of surfaces extending in different directions for engaging the rubber to increase the area of bonding contact between the rubber and the plate the metal plate being sufficiently strong and rigid to sustain the Weight of the section and the normal load on the section when supported only by means engaging said plate, without other intermediate supports.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which said surfaces are formed at least in part by the walls of numerous perforations extending therethrough.

8. A bowling alley section comprising a rubber composition bonded to a metal plate substantially coextensive with the lateral dimensions of the alley section and having ears thereon protruding beyond the alley section to provide a means by which the section may be anchored and supported, the metal plate being sufficiently strong and rigid to sustain the weight of the section and the normal load on the section when supported only by means engaging said plate, without other intermediate supports.

9. A bowling alley comprising a rubber body section having a flat playing surface on one face thereof, a metal plate embedded in said section and extending generally parallel to said playing surface throughout the full width thereof, said plate having extensions thereon protruding beyond the lateral edges of the section to form a support for the section, and said plate being sufficiently rigid to sustain the weight of the section and the normal load thereon when supported only by said extensions without other intermediate support.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which the metal plate extends substantially the full length of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,033 Edge Feb. 13, 1883 1,308,330 Brown July 1, 1919 1,409,274 Bech Mar. 14, 1922 1,426,198 Keith Aug. 15, 1922 1,552,203 Bishop Sept. 1, 1925 1,724,841 Karr Aug. 13, 1929 1,962,899 Hagy June 12, 1934 2,064,435 Loeflier Dec. 15, 1936 2,301,778 Gremp et al Nov. 10, 1942 

